The observations over the last years point out the fact that a number of ecological problems has come outside the scope of region and taken on a transboundary character. The Governments of the countries have arrived at a conclusion that such issues as air pollution, pollution of transboundary water resources, loss of biodiversity, soil pollution and other sources of pollution should be resolved jointly. Thus,  in 2000, Ministries of Nature Protection Agencies came to an agreement to develop the joint strategy for the use of nature resources to achieve the sustainable development in a sub-region. The development of Regional Environmental Action Plan (REAP) became the logical continuation of this meeting and was supported by UNEP.